Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce The Big Apple, a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

The term “square meal” has been cited in print since the 1850s; many nutritionists have encouraged people to eat three square meals a day. The saying “square meals make round people” was used by Mrs. August Belmont in 1920, but became popular in newspaper column beginning in 1954.

‘“Square meals make round people” is often credited to E. Joseph Cossman (see the 1984 citation below), but he was not the first to use it.

11 December 1920, New Orleans (LA) States, pg. 2, col. 1:
SQUARE MEALS
Mrs. August Belmont, apropos of the girls restaurant strike in New York, said, “I approve of the strike because it was justified. The inadequte luncheons,” concluded Mrs. Belmont, “these girls would look like different human beings. Square meals, you know, make round people.”